SWINDON held Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur to a 1-1 draw at The County Ground.
Gareth Bale opened the scoring for Spurs before Andy Williams levelled in front over 10,000 at SN1.
Town named a strong line-up against the Lillywhites. Darren Ward and Grant Hall continued at the heart of defence while there were also starts for Nathan Byrne, Louis Thompson and Miles Storey. Gareth Bale started for the visitors.
In the opening exchanges, Tottenham exhibited their Premier League class with Wes Foderingham called into action a number of times to keep the scoreline level. With 16 minutes on the clock, that man Bale made a telling intervention to put the visitors in front. Latching on to a ball on the edge of the area, the Welshman struck with one blow of his left foot to send the ball flying beyond Foderingham and into the net.
Minutes later, Tom Huddlestone’s free-kick almost travelled all the way through but Foderingham was again on hand to stretch across and paw the ball behind.
At the other end however, Hugo Lloris made a complete hash of a routine clearance and in nipped the lurking Andy Williams. Wide on the right hand side, the frontman lost his footing and could only prod the ball wide of the unguarded net.
Town continued to push forward. Louis Thompson saw an opportunity and managed to bisect the Spurs defence with a driving run. Just as he set himself to pull the trigger, a touch from a Tottenham defender appeared to cause him to lose his balance momentarily but his shot still forced Lloris into a neat save, toe-poking the ball away.
Just before the interval, another Town break led by Thompson came across to Alex Pritchard who steadied himself before curling wide of the far post.
Swindon came flying out of the traps in the second half with Pritchard sending a free-kick inches wide of goal. Moments later, Massimo Luongo let fly from the edge of the area, forcing Brad Friedel to tip his effort over the crossbar.
Gylfi Sigurdsson also tried his luck from outside the box but saw his effort curl past Foderingham but also past the post.
After plenty of endeavour, Town did manage to haul themselves level with just under 15 minutes to play. Moments beforehand, Nathan Thompson had almost reached a Pritchard cross but it was Andy Williams who would write his name onto the scoresheet. His drive was deflected off Caulker before looping over Brad Friedel and into the net to earn Town a draw.
Town team to face Tottenham: Foderingham, Thompson N, Ward (C ), Hall, Byrne; Luongo, Smith, Thompson L, Storey, Pritchard, Williams
Subs; Barthram, Collins, Waldon, McEveley, Agombar, Francis, Jackson, Bedwell.
